More than 130 merit badges in 14 subject areas
- Agribusiness
- Arts and crafts
- Business and industry
- Communications
- Conservation
- Hobbies
- Natural science
- Personal development
- Physical science
- Professions
- Public service
- Sports
- Trades
- Transportation
Benefits
- Contribution to the aims of Scouting: citizenship, character, and fitness
- Development of confidence, self-reliance, and social skills
- Physical fitness and healthy lifestyles
- Career and hobby choices may result
- Exposure to positive role models
Basics
- Two types of Merit Badges:
- General Interest
- Eagle Required or “White Ringer” (only 1 merit badge each from Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving, Environmental Science OR Sustainability, and Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling count as a “white ringer”; if the other are earned the count towards the total of 21)
- Can be earned at any time, but required for:
- Star (2 general; 4 “white ringers”)
- Life (+2 general; 3 “white ringers”)
- Eagle (+3 general; 7 “white ringers”)
- Not just a Summer Camp Activity – can be earned year-round
- Part of the “4 Steps to Advancement”:
- The Scout learns
- The Scout is tested via the Merit Badge Counselor
- The Scout is reviewed via the Merit Badge Counselor
- The Scout is recognized by the Troop at the Court of Honor
Merit Badge Counselors
This table of Troop 123 Merit Badge Counselors can be sorted by Merit Badge Type (White Ringer vs. Regular), Merit Badge, and Counselor. If you do not have the counselor's contact information please contact the Advancement Chair via email dwnoonan.bsa@gmail.com OR you can search for them in ScoutBook
| Type | Merit Badge | Counselor |
|---|---|---|
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Camping | Weisenberger, Pete |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Camping | Herman, Jeremy |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Camping | Fann, Rob |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Citizenship in Society | Noonan, Dan |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Citizenship in the Community | Stone, Robert |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Citizenship in the Community | Noonan, Dan |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Citizenship in the Nation | Stone, Robert |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Citizenship in the Nation | Noonan, Dan |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Citizenship in the World | Stone, Robert |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Citizenship in the World | Noonan, Dan |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Communications | Strous, Tom |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Communications | Stone, Jen |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Communications | Noonan, Dan |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Communications | Canini, Steve |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Cooking | Strous, Angela |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Cooking | Stone, Jen |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Cycling | Noonan, Dan |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Cycling | Canini, Steve |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Emergency Preparedness | Weisenberger, Pete |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Emergency Preparedness | Weisenberger, Pete |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Emergency Preparedness | Saunders, Andy |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Environmental Science | z-none at this time-z |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Family Life | Strous, Angela |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Family Life | Stone, Jen |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Family Life | Noonan, Dan |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | First Aid | Strous, Tom |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | First Aid | Stone, Robert |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | First Aid | Saunders, Andy |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Hiking | Strous, Angela |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Hiking | Stone, Jen |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Hiking | Soller, Joe |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Hiking | Saunders, Andy |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Hiking | Fann, Rob |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Lifesaving | Wilson, Ed |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Personal Fitness | Stone, Jen |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Personal Fitness | Noonan, Dan |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Personal Management | Weisenberger, Pete |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Personal Management | Stone, Jen |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Sustainability | Soller, Joe |
| White Ringer (Eagle required) | Swimming | Wilson, Ed |
| Regular | American Business | Weisenberger, Pete |
| Regular | American Business | Stone, Robert |
| Regular | American Cultures | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | American Heritage | Stone, Robert |
| Regular | American Labor | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Animal Science | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Animation | Strous, Tom |
| Regular | Archaeology | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Archery | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Architecture | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Art | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Astronomy | Strous, Angela |
| Regular | Astronomy | Stone, Robert |
| Regular | Athletics | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Automotive Maintenance | Fann, Rob |
| Regular | Aviation | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Backpacking | Strous, Tom |
| Regular | Backpacking | Strous, Angela |
| Regular | Backpacking | Fann, Rob |
| Regular | Basketry | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Bird Study | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Bugling | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Canoeing | Wilson, Ed |
| Regular | Canoeing | Strous, Tom |
| Regular | Chemistry | Stone, Robert |
| Regular | Chess | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Climbing | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Coin Collecting | Stone, Robert |
| Regular | Collections | Stone, Jen |
| Regular | Collections | Boriin, Pete |
| Regular | Composite Materials | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Crime Prevention | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Dentistry | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Digital Technology | Strous, Tom |
| Regular | Disabilities Awareness | Stone, Jen |
| Regular | Dog Care | Stone, Jen |
| Regular | Drafting | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Electricity | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Electronics | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Energy | Wilson, Ed |
| Regular | Engineering | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Entrepreneurship | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Exploration | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Farm Mechanics | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Fingerprinting | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Fire Safety | Saunders, Andy |
| Regular | Fish and Wildlife Management | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Fishing | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Fly Fishing | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Forestry | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Game Design | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Gardening | Strous, Angela |
| Regular | Gardening | Stone, Jen |
| Regular | Gardening | Soller, Joe |
| Regular | Genealogy | Weisenberger, Pete |
| Regular | Geocaching | Stone, Robert |
| Regular | Geology | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Golf | Soller, Joe |
| Regular | Graphic Arts | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Health Care Professions (formerly Medicine) | Stone, Robert |
| Regular | Home Repairs | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Horsemanship | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Indian Lore | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Insect Study | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Inventing | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Journalism | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Kayaking | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Landscape Architecture | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Law | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Leatherwork | Strous, Tom |
| Regular | Mammal Study | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Metalwork | Strous, Tom |
| Regular | Mining in Society | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Model Design and Building | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Motorboating | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Moviemaking | Strous, Tom |
| Regular | Moviemaking | Stone, Robert |
| Regular | Music | Boriin, Pete |
| Regular | Nature | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Nuclear Science | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Oceanography | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Orienteering | Strous, Tom |
| Regular | Painting | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Pets | Stone, Jen |
| Regular | Photography | Strous, Tom |
| Regular | Photography | Stone, Robert |
| Regular | Pioneering | Weisenberger, Pete |
| Regular | Pioneering | Strous, Tom |
| Regular | Pioneering | Soller, Joe |
| Regular | Plant Science | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Plumbing | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Pottery | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Programming | Strous, Tom |
| Regular | Public Health | Stone, Robert |
| Regular | Public Speaking | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Pulp and Paper | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Radio | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Railroading | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Reading | Stone, Jen |
| Regular | Reading | Noonan, Dan |
| Regular | Reptile & Amphibian Study | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Rifle Shooting | Herman, Jeremy |
| Regular | Robotics | Strous, Tom |
| Regular | Rowing | Wilson, Ed |
| Regular | Safety | Saunders, Andy |
| Regular | Salesmanship | Boriin, Pete |
| Regular | Scholarship | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Scouting Heritage | Weisenberger, Pete |
| Regular | Scuba Diving | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Sculpture | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Search and Rescue | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Shotgun Shooting | Herman, Jeremy |
| Regular | Signs, Signals, and Codes | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Skating | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Small-Boat Sailing | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Snow Sports | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Soil & Water Conservation | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Space Exploration | Strous, Angela |
| Regular | Space Exploration | Stone, Robert |
| Regular | Sports | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Stamp Collecting | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Surveying | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Textile | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Theater | Stone, Robert |
| Regular | Traffic Safety | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Truck Transportation | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Veterinary Medicine | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Water Sports | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Weather | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Welding | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Whitewater | z-none at this time-z |
| Regular | Wilderness Survival | Strous, Tom |
| Regular | Wilderness Survival | Fann, Rob |
| Regular | Wood Carving | Herman, Jeremy |
| Regular | Woodwork | Strous, Tom |
| Regular | Woodwork | Herman, Jeremy |
Merit Badges and the “Blue Card”
The Scout must complete red highlighted sections; the get Scoutmaster approval (green highlighted section) and the submit to Merit Badge Counselor when starting merit badge.
The Merit Badge Counselor will hold onto the Blue Card while it is being worked on and will complete the requirements and approval section, as well as their contact information (yellow highlight).
When the scout has completed the Merit Badge the Counselor signs and dates appropriate sections (yellow highlight). The Scout returns Blue Card to Scoutmaster for signature (green highlight), and the Scoutmaster submits Blue Card to Advancement Chair.
Important Recordkeeping
It is the Scout’s responsibility to track:
- Merit Badges in Scout Handbook for Star, Life or Eagle rank requirement as appropriate
- At Court of Honor, the Scout will receive “Applicant Record” portion of Blue card along with a Merit Badge Card to be maintained in their Red Binder, and the Merit Badge (for their sash)
- Blue Cards and Merit Badge Cards will be needed when ranking to Eagle.
Resources
- Troop 123 Guide to Merit Badges (updated 2020)
- Troop 123 Advancement Guide
- US Scouting Service Project – This is a great resource for up-to-date information about merit badges and downloadable workbooks
- Getting schooled on rules for merit badge classes, fairs and universities (Scouting Magazine blog post)